Apparatus and method of playing a board game simulating sport of basketball

ABSTRACT

A board game that simulates basketball, including a board, a plurality of markers, a pair of dice and a defense die. The board includes a top playing surface, which includes two halves, a centerline and a plurality of marker player positions. The plurality of marker player positions include benching, initiating, and shooting positions. Each shooting position is associated with a specific roll of two dice that must be met to score. Players are represented by markers, and on each turn, each player can make three moves, each move represent by moving one space on the board. On the third move, a player may opt to take a shot on basket by rolling the dice to try to match a qualifying roll total for the shooting position. If a qualifying roll total is met, then the marker player scores by removing the marker player from the board.

This non-provisional application claims priority to and the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 62/770,650, filed on Nov. 21, 2018, herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.

The present invention is directed to a board game simulating the sport of basketball. The currently disclosed board game comprises: a board, wherein the board comprises a top playing surface, the top playing surface comprising two halves, a centerline and a plurality of marker player positions, wherein each half includes a basket position located at opposite ends of the board, wherein the plurality of marker player positions includes bench positions, initiating positions, and shooting positions, and wherein each shooting position is associated with at least one qualifying dice roll number. The shooting positions include positions located throughout each half of the top playing surface. Further, the shooting positions include shooting positions located on the centerline and a free throw position on each half-court. The board game further comprises a plurality of markers, wherein the plurality of markers comprises individual markers player, for example a marble; and a pair of dice.

The board game may be played by two individuals or players, wherein each player has a team comprising of 10 marker players. The teams may be divided in an offense team with 10 marker players and a defense team with 10 marker players. At the start of the game, each team places their marker players on the board as follow: five marker players each on a bench position and five marker players each on an initiating position. The bench positions are located on either side of the top playing surface. The initiating positions are located at opposite ends of the board on either side of the basket position.

The board game is played in alternating turns. On each turn, a player has three opportunities to move his/her marker players to shooting positions. A move may include moving a marker player one space forward, backwards, side-to-side or diagonally. A single marker player may be moved three times. Alternatively, the three opportunities to move may be divided between different marker players. No marker player may be moved by jumping another marker player located in an occupied marker player position. If the offensive player cannot make three moves, then the defender player is awarded a foul shot and possession changes.

A player may choose to take a shot at the basket position on their third move. A shot may only be taken on the last move of their turn. Additionally, a shot may be taken from shooting positions located on the centerline and on the opposite team half-court. Further, a shot may be taken from the shooter's own half-court. In order to take a shot, the offensive player indicates which marker player is shooting. Then, to make the shot, the player must roll one of the qualifying dice roll number listed for the shooting position where the marker player is located. If the marker player makes the shot, said marker player is removed from the board.

On the next turn, the offense team moves a marker player from a bench position to an initiating position. Moving a marker player from a bench position to an initiating position does not count as part of the three opportunities to move. Each team must have five marker players on the board until the team is down to the final four marker players. If a team plays a turn with less than five marker players on the board and said team had marker players in any bench position, then the opponent team may call a foul and move their closest marker player to the free throw line to the line to take a free throw. If the free throw position is occupied, the marker player occupying the free throw position may be moved to the nearest open space to either side of the shooter marker player.

The board game may further comprise a defense die, said defense die may be used by the defense team to defend a shot attempt by the offense team. The defense die comprises a die, wherein each side of the die is identified with a symbol indicating a possible defense shot outcome. Said symbols may include the letter “B,” the word “BLOCK,” the letter “F,” the word “FOUL,” a check mark symbol “✓”, and the words “SHOT OK.”

The defense team may defend a shot if they have a marker player directly in front of, diagonal to or directly next to the offense team's shooter marker player. The defense team may not defend a shot from behind the shooter marker player.

To defend a shot, the defense team must inform the offense team they are defending the shot. The defense team rolls the defense die at the same time the offense team rolls the pair of dice. If the defense team rolls a “B” or “BLOCK,” then the shot has been blocked and it is the defense team's turn to move.

The board game may be played in two modes: “quick-play” mode or “basketball-style” mode. The goal in quick-play mode is for a player to move all of his/her team 10 marker players across and off the board before the opponent player. The first player to move all their marker players off the board wins the game.

In basketball-style mode, the goal is to score more points. The player who has the highest score after playing two-halves wins the game. A half is completed once one of the teams has gotten all of their marker players off the board, as previously described. Once a half is completed, then the board is reset and the second half begins. Shots made behind the three-point line have a value of 3 points. Shots made from within the three-point line have a value of 2 points.

In basketball-style mode, if a marker player is fouled, the marker player is moved to the free throw line and rolls the dice one time for each free throw. Thus, if the marker player is fouled while attempting a three-point shot and misses the shot, then the marker player would take three shots.

These and other features of the subject matter of the present application, as well as details of illustrated embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a board;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the board of FIG. 1 with bench positions, initiating positions and shooting positions identified;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a board with a plurality of markers in different positions;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a board and a bottom base; and

FIG. 5 is top view of the bottom base with a pair of dice, a defense die and a plurality of markers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, currently disclosed is a board game simulating the sport of basketball. The board game comprises a board 10, a plurality of markers 12, a pair of dice 14 and a defense die 16. Two players may play the board game, each player having a team. Each team comprising of ten players, wherein each player is represented by a marker player 18 of the plurality of markers. Said marker player 18 may be a circular shaped object, for example a marble.

The board 10 comprises a top playing surface 20 and an optional bottom base or storage unit 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the playing surface comprises two halves 24, a center centerline 26 and a plurality of marker player positions. The centerline 26 divides the playing surface into two halves 24, each half having a basket position 30. Each basket position 30 is located at opposite ends of the board 10. Each basket position is represented by a hole on the playing surface providing access to the bottom storage unit.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the plurality of marker player positions includes bench positions 32, initiating positions 34 and shooting positions 36. The bench positions 32 are located on either side of the top playing surface 20. The initiating positions are located at the end of the top playing surface on each side of the basket position. FIG. 2 shows an example of bench positions 32 and initiating positions 34 occupied by marker players. The shooting positions 36 are located throughout each half of the playing surface, including positions on the centerline 26 and free throw position 40.

Each shooting position 36 is associated and identified with one or more qualifying rolls of dice totals 38. A marker player may shoot and score from a shooting position if a roll of dice results in the qualifying roll total as identified in the occupied shooting position.

On each turn, a player may make up to three moves on the board, including moving to another shooting position on the board. On the third move, a player may opt for a marker player to take a shot on the basket by rolling the dice. If the roll of dice results in a qualifying roll total, then the marker player scores.

The board game may be played in two modes: “quick-play” mode or “basketball-style” mode. The goal of the board game played in quick-play mode is for a player to move all of his/her team 10 marker players across and off the board before the opponent player. The first player to move all of the team marker players off the board wins the game. The goal of the board game played in basketball-style mode is to score more points. The player who has the highest score after playing two-halves wins the game.

In quick-play mode, five marker players are each placed in separate initiating positions. The other five marker players are placed in the bench positions. To start a game, each player rolls one die. The player with the higher score goes first.

On a turn, a player may make up to three moves. Each move may comprise moving a marker player one space forward, one space backwards, one space diagonally, or one space side-to-side. The three moves may be used on a single marker player. Alternatively, the three moves may be split between two or more marker players. A marker player may not move by jumping another marker player in an occupied position.

On the third move, a player or shooter may choose to take a shot from a shooting position. A shot can only be taken on the last move of the turn. Additionally, a shot can be taken from the centerline or from the opposite team's half of the board. Further, a shot may be taken from the player's or shooter's own half-court.

Each shooting position is identified by one or more roll of dice totals. To make a shot from the centerline or from the opposite team's half court, the player must roll one of the qualifying totals listed for the shooting position where the shooting marker player is located. To make a shot from the player's own half-court or half board, the player must roll a total of 2.

If the roll of dice results in a qualifying roll total, then the marker player scores by dropping through the basket position, off the board and into the bottom storage unit, or by simply removing the marker player from the board. On the next turn, the player may bring a marker player from a bench position into the board. The goal is to move all 10 marker players across and off the board. A marker player may be brought in to play by moving it to the initiating position 46 next to the bench positions.

If the player (“shooter”) decides to take a shot, then the opponent player (“defender”) may choose to defend the shot. The opponent player must inform the player said opponent player is defending the shot. The opponent player may defend a shot if said opponent player has a marker player in a shooting position either directly in front of, diagonally to, or directly next to the shooter's marker player shooting position. The opponent player or defender may not defend a shot from a shooting position behind the shooter's marker player shooting position.

To defend a shot, the opponent player rolls a defense die at the same time as the shooter. The defense die comprises a die, wherein each side of the die is identified with a symbol indicating a possible defense shot outcome. Said symbols may include the letter “B,” the word “BLOCK,” the letter “F,” the word “FOUL,” a check mark symbol “✓”, and the words “SHOT OK”.

TABLE I Opponent Player's Player's (“Shooter”) (“Defender”) Roll Roll Outcome Qualifying Total B or BLOCK The shot is blocked. It is now the defender's turn. Qualifying Total ✓ or SHOT OK The shot was not blocked and made it in. Qualifying Total F or FOUL Defender has fouled the shooter. If the shooter scores, then the offensive player moves the player closest to the free throw line and shoots a free throw. Non-qualifying Total B or BLOCK The shot is blocked. It is now the defender's turn. Non-qualifying Total ✓ or SHOT OK The shot was not blocked, but it did not go in. It is now the defender's turn. Non-qualifying Total F or FOUL Defender has fouled the shooter. The shooter is moved to the free throw line and shoots a free throw.

Table I illustrates the possible outcomes for defending a shot in a game played in quick-play mode. For example, if the player rolls a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls a “B” or “BLOCK,” then the shot is blocked. If the shot is blocked, then it is the opponent player's or defender's turn. If the player rolls a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls a “✓” or “SHOT OK,” then the player or shooter has made the shot and the shooter scores by dropping the marker player through the basket position to the, off the board and into the bottom storage unit, or by removing the marker player from the board.

If the player rolls a qualifying total and the opponent player or defender rolls an “F” or “FOUL,” then the marker player has both scored and has been fouled. The marker player scores by dropping through the basket position and/or off the board. Additionally, the player or shooter gets to move his/her closest marker player to the free throw position and attempt to shoot by rolling the dice. If the player rolls the free throw qualifying roll total, then the marker player scores by dropping the marker player through the basket position to the, off the board and into the bottom storage unit, or by removing the marker player from the board.

If the player fails to roll a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls a “B” or “BLOCK,” then the shot is blocked. If the shot is blocked, then it is the opponent player's or defender's turn to move. If the player fails to roll a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls a “✓” or “SHOT OK,” then the shot was blocked, but it did not go in. Thus, it is the opponent player's turn to move.

If the player fails to roll a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls an “F” or “FOUL,” then the marker player has been fouled. The marker player is moved to the free throw position and the player attempts a free throw by rolling the dice. If the player rolls the free throw qualifying roll total, then the marker player scores by dropping the marker player through the basket position to the, off the board and into the bottom storage unit, or by removing the marker player from the board. If the free throw line is occupied by another marker player, then said marker player is moved to the nearest open shooting position located at either side of the shooter marker player.

After making a shot, a player may bring or move a marker player from the bench position into an initiating position. If the nearest initiating position is occupied, then the new marker player may be moved to said initiating position by moving the marker player in the initiating position to the next available right-side position. Moving a marker player from a bench position to an initiating position does not count towards the three total moves allowed per turn.

A player must have five marker players on the playing surface until said player is down to four marker players. If a player plays a turn with less than five marker players on the board and said player still has marker players on the bench, then the opponent player may call a foul. If said foul is called, then the opponent player may move their closest marker player to the free throw position to said position and attempt a shot by rolling the dice. If the opponent player rolls the free throw qualifying roll total, then the marker player scores by dropping the marker player through the basket position to the, off the board and into the bottom storage unit, or by removing the marker player from the board.

If the player cannot make the required three move on a turn, then the opponent player is awarded a foul shot and it becomes the opponent player's turn to move. This scenario does not apply if the player may win the game with less than three moves in a turn.

As indicated above, the board game may also be played in basketball-style mode, wherein the goal is to score more points than the opponent player in two halves of gameplay. Once one of the two players has gotten all 10 of his/her marker players off the board, a half of the gameplay is completed. Once this is completed, the board is reset and the second half begins.

Similar to quick-play mode, in basketball-style mode, five marker players are each placed in separate initiating positions. The other five marker players are placed in the bench positions. To start a game, each player rolls one die. The player with the higher score goes first.

On a turn, a player may make up to three moves. Each move may comprise moving a marker player one space forward, one space backwards, one space diagonally, or one space side-to-side. The three moves may be used on a single marker player. Alternatively, the three moves may be split between two or more marker players. A marker player may not move by jumping another marker player in an occupied position.

On the third move, a player may choose to take a shot from a shooting position. A shot can only be taken on the last move of the turn. Additionally, a shot can be taken from the centerline or from the opposite team's half of the board. Further, a shot may be taken from the player's or shooter's own half-court.

Each shooting position is identified by one or more qualifying roll totals. To make a shot from the opposite team's half court or half board, the player must roll one of the qualifying totals listed for the shooting position where the shooting marker player is located. To make a shot from the player's own half-court or half board, the player must roll a total of 2.

If the roll of dice results in a qualifying score, then the marker player scores by dropping through the basket position, off the board and into the bottom storage unit, or simply by removing the marker player off the board. The scored points of said shot will depend on the shooting position of the shooter's marker player. If the shooter's marker player is located in a shooting position behind the three-point line 42, then the shot is worth 3 points. If the shooter marker player is located in a shooting position within the three-point line 44, then the shot is worth 2 points.

If a player decides to take a shot, then the opponent player may choose to defend the shot. The opponent player must inform the player said opponent player is defending the shot. An opponent player may defend a shot if said opponent player has a marker player in a shooting position either directly in front of, diagonally to or directly next to the marker player shooter shooting position. An opponent player may not defend a shot from a shooting position behind the marker player shooter shooting position.

Similar to quick-play mode, to defend a shot, the opponent player rolls a defense die at the same time as the player. The defense die comprises a die, wherein each side of the die is identified with a symbol indicating a possible defense shot outcome. Said symbols may include the letter “B,” the word “BLOCK,” the letter “F,” the word “FOUL,” a check mark symbol “✓”, and the words “SHOT OK.”

TABLE II Opponent Player's Player's (“Shooter”) (“Defender”) Roll Roll Outcome Qualifying Total B or BLOCK The shot is blocked. It is now the defender's turn. Qualifying Total ✓ or SHOT OK The shot was not blocked and made it in. Score 2 or 3 points. Qualifying Total F or FOUL The defender has fouled the shooter, but the shoot is good. Add 2 or 3 points to the shooter's score (based on the shot), and then move the marker player to free throw line and roll one additional free throw. If the free throw is good, add one more point to the shooter's score. If the shooter is fouled while taking a shot, the shooter does not need to remove the marker player from the board, even if the shot is good. Non-qualifying B or BLOCK The shot is blocked. It is now the Total defender's turn. Non-qualifying ✓ or SHOT OK The shot was not blocked, but it did Total not go in. It is now the defender's turn. Non-qualifying F or FOUL Defender has fouled the shooter. Total The shooter is moved to the free throw line and shoots 2 or 3 free throws (based on where the marker player was fouled). The shooter rolls the dice for each free throw, adding a point to the shooter's score for each free throw made. The shooter does not need to remove the marker player from the board, even if the shot is good.

Table II illustrates the possible outcomes for defending a shot in a game played in “basketball style” mode For example, if the player rolls a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls a “B” or “BLOCK,” then the shot is blocked. If the shot is blocked, then it is the opponent player's turn. If the player rolls a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls a “✓” or “SHOT OK,” then the player makes the shot and the marker player scores 2 or 3 points depending on the shooting position. The shooter's marker player scores by dropping through the basket position, off the board and into the bottom storage unit, or by simply removing the marker player off the board.

If the player rolls a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls an “F” or “FOUL,” then the marker player has been fouled. The marker player scores 2 or 3 points depending on the shooting position. Then, the marker player is moved to the free throw line and the player gets to roll dice one more time. If the player rolls the free throw qualifying roll total, then the marker player scores 1 point. The marker player may be then moved to another shooting position. Optionally, the marker player is dropped through the basket position and off the board, or is simply removed off the board.

If the player fails to roll a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls a “B” or “BLOCK,” then the shot is blocked. If the shot is blocked, then it is the opponent player's turn to move. If the player fails to roll a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls a “✓” or “SHOT OK,” then the shot was not made and it is the opponent player's turn to move.

If the player fails to roll a qualifying total and the opponent player rolls an “F” or “FOUL,” then the marker player has been fouled. The marker player is moved to the free throw position. The player may attempt a free throw shot by rolling the dice. The player has two or three free throw attempts depending on which shooting position the shooter marker player was located when the foul occurred. The player may roll the dice depending on the amount of available free throw attempts. If the player rolls the free throw qualifying roll total, then the marker player scores. One point is awarded per qualifying roll total. The marker player may be then moved to another shooting position. Optionally, the marker player is dropped through the basket position and off the board, or is simply removed off the board. 

What is claimed:
 1. A board game simulating the sport of basketball comprising: a board, wherein the board comprises a top playing surface, the top playing surface comprising two halves, a centerline and a plurality of marker player positions, wherein each top playing surface half includes a basket position located at opposite ends of the board, wherein the plurality of marker player positions includes bench positions, initiating positions, and shooting positions, and wherein each shooting position is associated with at least one qualifying dice roll number; a plurality of markers, wherein the plurality of markers comprises individual markers, each marker representing a player; and a pair of dice.
 2. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a defense die.
 3. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a bottom base.
 4. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shooting positions include positions located throughout each half of the top playing surface.
 5. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 4 wherein the shooting positions include positions located on the centerline and a free throw position.
 6. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bench positions are located on either side on the top playing surface.
 7. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 1 wherein the initiating positions are located at opposite ends of the board on each side of the basket position.
 8. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of markers further comprises two teams, each team including ten marker players.
 9. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 8 wherein each team includes five marker players placed in bench positions and five marker players placed in initiating positions.
 10. The board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of markers include marbles.
 11. A method for playing a board game simulating the sport of basketball comprising the steps: a. dividing a plurality of marker players into an offense team and a defense team, each team including ten marker players; b. placing the plurality of marker players on marker player positions located on a board, wherein the board comprises a top playing surface, said top playing surface comprising of two halves divided by a centerline, each half including a basket position located at opposite ends of the board, wherein the marker player positions include bench positions, initiating positions, and shooting positions, and wherein each shooting position is associated with at least one qualifying dice roll number identified on the board; c. placing five marker players each on a bench position; d. placing five marker players each on an initiating position; e. determining playing order per team, wherein the team playing first is the offense team and makes the first move, and wherein each team has a maximum of three moves per turn; f. moving a marker player from an initiating position to a shooting position; g. identifying the marker player in shooting position attempting a shot; h. rolling a pair of dice and determining a total number obtained; i. comparing the total number obtained with the qualifying dice roll number of the shooting position; and j. removing the marker player in the shooting position off the board if the total number obtained matches with the qualifying dice roll number of said shooting position.
 12. The method for playing a board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 11 wherein the three moves per turn include moving a marker player one shooting position forward, backward, side-to-side or diagonally.
 13. The method for playing a board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 11 wherein the three moves per turn includes moving more than one marker player one shooting position forward, backward, side-to-side or diagonally.
 14. The method for playing a board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 11 wherein the defense team defends the offense team shot by rolling a defense die at the same time as the offense team is rolling the pair of dice.
 15. The method for playing a board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 14 wherein the defense team successfully defends the offense team shot if the defense die lands on a “B” or “BLOCK.”
 16. The method for playing a board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 14 wherein the defense team fails to defend the offense team shot if the defense die lands on a “✓” or the words “SHOT OK.”
 17. The method for playing a board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 14 wherein the defense team fouls the offense team shot if the defense die lands on an “F” or “FOUL.”
 18. The method for playing a board game simulating the sport of basketball as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of moving the offense team shooting marker player to a free throw position. 